Everyone loves the warmth of twinkling holiday lights, but it is important to follow safety standards while decorating. Whether your lights have been used in the past or are brand new, you will want to inspect them for safety to help prevent a fire. Look for the UL Underwriters Laboratory label and do not use indoor lights for outside decorating, they are not the same. Check wires and discard those which have any frayed or broken areas and if a bulb does not work after replacing it could be an indication of an issue. Do not overload electrical outlets and use no more than three strands of lights for one extension cord.
Christmas Tree damage
When preparing your home for placement of a real Christmas tree be sure to measure the height of your ceiling and allow adequate space for the tree topper. Standard ceilings height is between 8ft to 9ft so a 7 to 7 ½ ft tree would be suitable for most spaces. Choose a shape that best fits into the floor plan of the room. Be sure to have a waterproof barrier beneath the tree stand to protect hardwood floors against moisture rings left from even a small amount of splashing from watering. Water trapped between the tree stand and floor can cause discoloration, gaps, cupping, or crowning to wood floors. Often the stand which holds the tree and contains the water is heavy and can create dents or leave impressions into wood flooring or carpeting, so a waterproof pad can also help to prevent damage from the stand itself. Choose a sturdy tree stand which is large enough to support the tree and consider securing it with fishing line to help prevent the top-heavy tree from falling over and causing damage. Don’t drag your tree across hardwood floors, carry it in and out of the home and dropped needles should be vacuumed up. Sap will ooze from the branches and can leave stubborn staining so select a large enough tree skirt to help catch any of the sticky droplets.
Hanging decorations
Many people have found the 3M removable hooks which come in various sizes to support different loads of weight to be very user friendly leaving no trace after the holidays are over. You can also use fishing line to support heavy garlands and zip ties or ribbon to secure decorations to railings and balusters. Purchase the inexpensive plastic clips available online or locally to hang exterior lights by attaching them to bricks, siding, trim, fascia board, rain gutters or shingles. When using a rain gutter system as the attachment for your exterior lights do not to overload with too much weight which could impact the necessary pitch to properly function. Do not drive nails into your fascia board, siding, shingles or window casting and trim. A nail hole may seem small and of no consequence but any penetration of water through a protective surface can lead to damage over time. Do not use your chimney as an anchor or have decorations up against it. Avoid using roofing shingles to support décor as they can easily be damaged or loosened allowing water to seep into the home.
The Ghost of Christmas Future
We have all likely seen it at one point or another; gray shadows outlining the supporting joists and screws behind the walls, often referred to as “ghosting”. Over time the dark coloring, often found higher on walls or on ceilings, becomes more prominent. One of the commons reasons these shadows can develop may be due to one or more of the combustible sources found inside of your home including gas fireplaces, stoves, candles, or furnace. A seemingly innocent daily ritual of burning one or more scented candles can lead to a tremendous amount of damage to a large area in a few short years. Limit how often you burn candles and be sure to keep the wicks trimmed to try and limit the amount of soot output. Once the staining has settled onto the walls or ceiling it must be removed with special sponges and cleaners prior to painting because it will just bleed through the new paint.
Putting it all away
Don’t pull or tug on hard-to-reach decorations that are attached to exterior trim, rain gutters or fascia boards but gently guide the wires free from the clips. It is better to take your time when removing hanging lights and decorations to avoid costly damage. Some clips may require more time or pliers to open and remove and homeowners sometimes leave the clips in place for ease the following year and remove the decorations only. Fishing line can be used for any 3M hooks which are sticking. Lights should loosely be wrapped over your arm then placed in a water-tight box instead of balled up tightly. <
Nicole Foster is a real estate broker with Locations Real Estate and is a Windham resident and parent who loves real estate and people. Reach her by email at Nicole@locationsinmaine.com or call her at 207-615-7558.
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